Cookstown Tavern Circa 1906

This is a photo of the Cookstown Tavern, circa 1906, as photographed
by my grandparents, Samuel Rogers, and
Emily Bird Wright. They were
visiting the Jacobstown and Cookstown, Burlington County, New Jersey area
(Cookstown/Crosswicks Map [377KB, 150 dpi])
** with other family members, among them my great grandmother,
Laura A. (Lamb) Wright.
My great grandmother lived in this residence as a little girl,
when her parents, Nehemiah Lamb and
Mary Ann Worth owned this property.
Nehemiah bought this property on 11 February 1856 (See Deed
transcription below) and sold the property on 24 March 1864 to Aaron
Eldridge of Millstone Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. (NJ State
Archives Deeds, Burlington County Deeds, Reel #3641, Vol. A7, pp. 428-430)
Nehemiah bought this property for $2,500 and sold it for
$3,000. When he sold the property, it was referred to as "all that
certain tavern property." As one can see by the dates of ownership, the
Inn/Tavern was occupied by my great great grandparents during the Civil War,
and my great grandmother, Laura A. (Lamb) Wright
shared stories with her grandchildren about Civil War soldiers coming to the
Tavern during this time, at which time she would be sent upstairs, being
somewhat fearful of these uniformed men on horseback. Because Nehemiah
was of Quaker background, one can only assume that he was no longer a practicing
Quaker at this point, since he owned a tavern. (Nehemiah's first wife,
Ann Patterson is buried in the Springfield Quaker Burying Grounds.)

**This is an 1876 map taken from the photostat
negative collection of my late aunt, Laura E. Rogers, and is viewable online at
almost 200%. You may save it, thus being able to view it with Adobe Photoshop
or some other image editor. You will note the "Wid. Mary A. Lamb" on this
map.
This isMary Ann (Worth) Lamb,
widow of the Nehemiah Lamb who bought
this Cookstown Tavern in 1856. Nehemiah died in 1872, four years before
the date of this map, and by 1880, Mary Ann had remarried
Theodore Huster.

In the 1883 publication, History of Burlington and Mercer Counties by
Woodward and Hageman, there is some brief history of the Cookstown area. This
history mentions that "George C. Davis built a substantial Federal-style
tavern/hotel in 1825, The Cookstown House. In 1883, the town consisted
of two stores, two hotels, a church, a blacksmith shop, a post office, a hay
press, grist mill, a fertilizer and agricultural implement depot, and houses
sheltering a population of about 150."

In 1975, the Burlington County Inventory and Survey of Historic,
Architectural and Cultural Resources apparently used 1938 photos of this
building (then Cox's Tavern), from the files of
HABS's
(Historic American Buildings Survey) to determine in part, if this building
qualified for the National Register of Historic Buildings.

It was considered a possibility, but apparently nothing ever came of it,
unfortunately, as the building was a grocery and deli in 1991. (About
the only original part of the building left at that point was the basement,
which my family and I were graciously shown, by the then current owners.)
According to the 1975 survey, the building's address was Main Street and
Bunting Bridge Road, Cookstown, New Jersey. The original building was a
five-bay house, with two equal sized rooms on either side of the stairwell,
the actual building measuring 20' x 40'. For those interested in
architecture, the survey also mentioned that there were classical motifs,
including roundels in door frame, columns framing dormers, and fireplace
mantels. The original building was described as a "carefully detailed,
well-proportioned piece of Federal architecture."

Following is the transcription of the deed showing
when Nehemiah Lamb bought this Tavern/Inn property. You are certainly able
to use this deed for your personal research, but kindly source it "from whence
it came." The transcription was done by me, and the source is Donna Speer
Ristenbatt's web site,
On the Trail of Our Ancestors.
For the original source notation, you may write to me by
e-mail.

Cookstown Tavern Property Bought by Nehemiah Lamb/1856

This Indenture made this Eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty six Between Joseph Cliver and Sarah his
wife of the village of Wrightstown in the township of New Hanover and George
Sykes of the township of Springfield in the County of Burlington and state of
New Jersey parties of the first part and Nehemiah Lamb of the village of
Cookstown in the township of New Hanover in the County of Burlington and state
aforesaid.

Whereas Charles Ivins claimed title to a certain farm or plantation
and mill property of which the hereinafter described premises are a part by
virtue of a deed of conveyance duly executed under the hands and seals of
Benjamin Rogers and wife bearing date the third day of March Anno Domini one
thousand eight hundred and twenty five and recorded in Book U.2. of Deeds
page 292 in the Clerk's office at Mount Holly and the said
Charles Ivins and Elizabeth his wife by deed dated the thirtieth day of
March in the year last aforesaid and recorded in Book S2 of Deeds page 508
in the Clerk's office at Mount Holly aforesaid granted ninety seven hundredths of an
acre, part and parcel of to George C. Davis in fee who with Ann his
wife granted and conveyed the said ninety seven hundredths of an acre of land to
Benjamin W. Rogers in fee by deed dated the twenty third day of March eighteen
hundred and thirty three and Recorded in Book E?3 of Deeds page 483 in the
Clerk's office aforesaid And the said Benjamin W. Rogers by deed dated
the fifteenth day of January eighteen hundred and thirty five and recorded
in Book I3 of Deeds page 586 in the Clerk's office aforesaid granted and conveyed the
said lot of land to George W. Ivins in fee and the aforesaid Charles
Ivins and Elizabeth his wife by deed dated the third day of September Eighteen
hundred and thirty three and recorded in Book H3 of Deeds page 297 in the
Clerk's Office at Mount Holly aforesaid granted and conveyed the remainder of
the said farm or plantation and Mill property to Joseph Hartshorne in
trust for the use of John B. Keeler and the said Joseph Hartshorne
trustee as aforesaid by deed dated the first day of June Anno Domini eighteen
hundred and thirty five and recorded in Book N3 of Deeds page 110 in the Clerk's
office aforesaid granted and conveyed one other lot or parcel of land to the said
George W. Ivins in fee and the said George W. Ivins being seized
of the two above described lots or parcels of land adjoining each other with
Eliza his wife granted and conveyed the said lots or parcels of land to
his nephew Thomas W. Ivins in fee by Deed dated the third day of April Anno
Domini Eighteen hundred and forty one and recorded in Book A4 of Deeds page 131 in
the Clerk's office at Mount Holly aforesaid.

And whereas William M. Knight of the Borough of Bordentown claimed
title to the two above described lots or parcels of land by virtue of a deed of
conveyance from Edward Fields and wife bearing date the tenth day of
July Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and forty five and Recorded in Book S4 of
Deeds page 72 in the Clerk's office at Mount Holly, and the said
William M. Knight and Martha his wife by deed bearing date the twenty fifth
day of March Eighteen hundred and forty seven granted the said lots of land to
Isaac Cliver which deed is Recorded in Book B5 of Deeds page 327, in the
Clerk's office aforesaid And Whereas Abraham Gaskill Sheriff of the County
of Burlington by virtue of an execution to him directed levied and seized upon
the aforesaid two lots or parcels of land and conveyed the same as the property
of the said Isaac Cliver to George B. Pancoast by deed dated the
thirtienth[sic] day of December eighteen hundred and fifty and recorded in Book B5
of Deeds page 329 in the Clerk's Office aforesaid at Mount Holly, and the said
George B. Pancoast and Deborah his wife by deed dated the twenty first day
of December in the year last aforesaid and Recorded in Book B5 of Deeds page 340 in
the Clerk's office at Mount Holly aforesaid granted the two above described lots or
parcels of land to the said Joseph Cliver and George Sykes the
grantors herein first named in fee and the said Joseph Cliver and
George Sykes claim title to one one [sic] of the lot or parcel of land
containing two hundredths of an acre by virtue of a deed of conveyance from
Ezekiel Sexton dated the sixteenth day of July Anno Domini Eighteen hundred
and fifty three and intended to be forthwith recorded in the same book with this
indenture in the Clerk's office at Mount Holly which last mentioned lot includes a
small strip or gore of land adjoining the two above described lots or parcels of
land as by reference to the above recorded deeds or the record thereof the Chain
of Antecedent title will more fully appear.

Now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said
Joseph Cliver and Sarah his wife and George Sykes parties of the
first part for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand five hundred
dollars lawful money of the United States to them in hand or ??? by the said
Nehemiah Lamb at the ensealing and delivery hereof the ?? payment whereof
is hereby owned and acknowledged ??? sold conveyed and confirmed and by these ???
(The lower right hand corner of this deed page has darkened and is difficult to
read.) fully clearly and absolutely grant bargain sell and convey and confirm unto
the said Nehemiah Lamb and to his heirs and assigns forever all the following
described lot or parcel of land including the ? first and third lots herein before
described and the principal part of the second lot situate in and near the village of
Cookstown in the township of New Hanover in the County of Burlington and state of New
Jersey and butted and bounded as follows.

Beginning at a stone at the Easterly edge of the main road or street running
southerly through the village of Cookstown and at the Southerly edge of the
road leading to Horners Bridge over Crosswicks Creek which stone is also the
beginning and Northwest corner of William Pancoast's lot and is also the
Beginning Corner to John B. Keeler's Mill property and farm or plantation
which stone is distant twenty six links on a course North sixty four degrees and
fifteen minutes West from the Northwest corner of the cellar wall under William
Pancoast's dwelling house and also distant eighty four links on a course South
thirty eight degrees and fifteen minutes West from the South west corner of the
cellar ? under the Brick Farm house on the premises hereby conveyed and from
said stone or Beginning running along the main road or street according to the
magnetic position of the needle as the several courses around the premises were
run by Joseph K. Hulme and George? Sykes in June Eighteen hundred and fifty
two.

1st. North one degree west two chains and Eighty one links to the South East
corner the bridge where the said main road or street crosses the mill stream or
creek a little Easterly from the Mill then 2nd) down the south? edge of the
mill creek or brook which was formerly called North run or Tomlinsen's run the
several courses thereof (as per deed by Charles Ivins and wife to
George C. Davis aforesaid) the general course being North eighty one
degrees and thirty minutes East four chains and two links to a stake or stone
on the south side of said run or creek the Beginning Corner to lot conveyed by
Joseph Hartshorne to George W. Ivins then along the southern edge
of the creek. 3rd. North eighty nine degrees East three chains and forty links
then still along the Southerly edge of the creek. 4th. South eighty two degrees
and thirty minutes East four? chains and seventy five links then still along the
southerly edge of the creek. 5th. North fifty one degrees East one chain and sixty
seven links to the line of Thomas N. Emley and Henry Emley's land then
leaving the creek and running along said Emley's line. 6th. ?-four degrees and fifteen
minutes East two chains and two chains and twenty-? links to a stone on the slope of
the bank then by land conveyed by Joseph Cliver and George Sykes to
Thomas N. Emley and Henry Emley. 7th. South eleven degrees West four chains
and forty links to a stone in the aforesaid road from near the bridge at Cookstown to Horner's
Bridge on Crosswicks Creek and which stone is corner to said Emley's land then
along said road. 8th. North seventy nine degrees west? eleven chains and thirty
nine links to a stone in said road corner to Ezekiel Sexton's land it being
also the beginning ? to the strip or gore of land the said Joseph Cliver and
George Sykes purchased of Ezekiel Sexton their part by said
Sexton's land and part by William Pancoast's land. 9th. South eighty
seven degrees and forty five minutes West two chains and ninety two links to the
beginning containing five acres and eighty six hundredths of an acre of land strict measure.

Together with all things thereunto appertaining or in anywise belonging as
Vol. W-5 part or parcel of the same or reputed so to be and the reversions and remainders
rents issues and profits thereof and all the estate, right, title, interest,
property, possession, use, claim and demand whatsoever either in law or equity
of them the said Joseph Cliver and Sarah his wife and George
Sykesor either of them of in and to the same. To Have and to Hold the above
described lot or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements, and appurtenances to the
said Nehemiah Lamb his heirs and assigns to the only proper use, benefit, and
behoof of the said Nehemiah Lamb his heirs and assigns forever.

And the said Joseph Cliver and George Sykes for themselves their heirs,
executors and administrators do by these presents covenant and agree to and with
the said Nehemiah Lamb his heirs and assigns that they the said Joseph
Cliver and George Sykes and their heirs all and singular the land
and premises herein above described and granted or ? mentioned or intended so
to be with the appurtenances unto the said Nehemiah Lamb his heirs and
assigns against them the said Joseph Cliver and George Sykes and
their heirs and against all and every other persons whomsoever lawfully
claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof by from or under them the
said Joseph Cliver and George Sykes shall and will by these
presents warrant and forever defend. In witness whereof the said Joseph
Cliver and Sarah his wife and George Sykes have herunto set their
hands and affixed their seals this eleventh day of February Anno Domini one
thousand eight hundred and fifty six. Signed sealed and delivered in the
presence of us, Daniel Lame.

Signed Joseph Cliver, LS, Sarah Cliver, LS, Geo.Sykes, LS

This deed was taken and acknowledged before Daniel Lame, one of the Masters
of the High Court of Chancery and recorded 5 March 1856.